Red Centre sex assault victims face long journey

The Alice Springs Women's Shelter has called for health staff to be adequately trained so they can help victims of sexual assault in Central Australia.

The Northern Territory Health Department has confirmed that sex assault victims in Alice Springs are being treated in Darwin, more than 1,600 kilometres away, because of staff shortages.

Shelter spokeswoman Dale Wakefield says many victims are from remote communities and it is important that local services are resourced properly.

''It is unacceptable that people from remote communities might have to travel to Alice Springs and then to Darwin, making the situation even more untenable for, really, someone who is in such a vulnerable position," she said.

Territory Health Minister Robyn Lambley has committed to investigating how to solve the problem.

The Health Department says a shortage of nurses at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at Alice Springs has led to the practice.

The Australian Medical Association is calling on the Government to employ a forensic doctor at the centre.

Mrs Lambley says she wants to make sure the centre has enough staff.

"Of course we don't want to be sending people who've been victims of sexual assault up to Darwin from Alice Springs to be assessed," she said.

"I mean, that sounds extreme and unpleasant, and entirely unnecessary.

"We need to make sure that we do whatever we need to do to make sure that the positions within SARC are filled."